My resolutions for 2013

(that is, assuming the world does not indeed end on 12/21/12. If so, and this particular game actually shuts down, it’s been a pleasure)

1- If something is fun, I’ll play it. If it stops being fun, I’ll stop.
2- I’ll stop caring about what and how genres should be and instead go back to point 1 when needed.
3- I’ll keep thinking holiday/seasonal content is bullshit. Because it is.
4- There is no point 4.
5- I will post more.
6- I will wear my “Protection from Marketing” charm necklace and in doing so I will avoid being bitten and infected with Hype Disease.
7- I will be more Lawful Neutral.
8- I will continue to meditate on the koan; “The problem is not the carrot, it’s how long the stick is.”
9- I will finally discard most of my Political Correctness armor, and if that ends up breaking the Civility set bonuses, then so be it. I got better stuff anyway.
10- I will not lambast because it’s AAA, I will not support because it’s indie, I will not forget that there are always better ways to do things and I most definitely won’t suffer intentional mediocrity idly.

Yeah who needs to worry about how the things we say can unconsciously and unintentionally contribute to and promote the stigmatization and marginalization of some particular group of people? Civility be damned, widespread implicit bias be damned, stereotype threat be damned, I’m not going to be shackled by caring about the broad social consequences of my words and actions!

Julian doesn’t appear to be implying that he’s going to be less than civil to anyone – in his other posts thus far this certainly doesn’t seem like a trait of his. While worrying about our unconscious and unintentional effects on others is laudable, we have plenty of opportunities to do good consciously and intentionally, which is equally important if not more so. Lately, however, it appears to be getting lost in the rush to condemn others for not being politically correct. If we must worry, better to worry about what we can do for others than the things others do that we don’t care for.

” 10- I will not lambast because it’s AAA, I will not support because it’s indie, I will not forget that there are always better ways to do things and I most definitely won’t suffer intentional mediocrity idly.”

This is a point that many gaming enthusiasts would do well to consider. If we’re tough yet fair with our judgments and our buying power, we’ll end up with better games on the whole from both independent and publisher-supported developers.